Capability To React Is Real Issue

Bill O'Reilly blames the poor for their plight. If they were not poor, they would have had a fighting chance to escape the catastrophic destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

To avoid being poor in America, one has to get a good education and therefore secure one's future. After all, this is the land of opportunity.

Mr. O'Reilly argues that we have compulsory, free public schools, scholarships and aid galore.

No doubt there are numerous benefits for the educated. But let's take a look at the overall quality of education in America. Can we compare public schools in Huntington, Long Island, N.Y., with some of the school districts in Florida?

So what do families in Florida, in areas where the standard of education is poor, do? They send their children to private schools to get a good education. Most poor families cannot afford private schools because scholarships are limited.

Let's blame the poor again for their plight. After all, if they were educated and had well-paid jobs, they would have cars and be able to get out of harm's way.

Let's ignore the fact that the disparity between the rich and the poor has been growing disproportionately during the present administration.

Is personal responsibility really the issue here -- or is a government that does not have the capability to act quickly in the face of disaster the real issue?